Right-Wing Parties in Brussels: Regrouping After 2024 EU Election Surge
Following their strong performance in the 2024 European Parliament elections, right-wing parties in Brussels are reorganizing. Some alliances are being renewed while new ones are forming, suggesting potential surprises ahead.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were seen sharing a laugh in Brussels, yet the camaraderie among right-wing EU parties is far from unified. The far-right's substantial gains in June's EU parliamentary elections have shifted the political landscape across the continent.
In France, the far-right National Rally (RN) victory has been particularly impactful, causing President Emmanuel Macron to call for new national elections. The true influence of RN in the French national parliament will become clearer after the second round of voting on Sunday. Meanwhile, right-wing parties in the European Parliament are forging alliances for the next legislative period, blending old relationships with new partnerships.
**ECR Group Expands Its Influence**
The right-wing factions have generally split into two main groups. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which includes Poland’s nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) and Italy’s Brothers of Italy (FdI), has solidified its stance. Led by Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister and the ECR party president, the group prioritizes focusing the EU on core tasks and opposing moves towards a supranational superstate.
On immigration, the ECR aims to curb irregular migration and proposes regional disembarkation platforms outside the EU for processing asylum applications. They also advocate for addressing migration’s root causes. Environmentally, the group seeks to reverse agreements phasing out internal combustion vehicles and questions greenhouse gas reduction efforts. They support continued aid to Ukraine against Russian aggression, with Meloni's moderate approach perceived as strategic.
Holding 84 seats, the ECR is the third-largest bloc in the European Parliament and is expected to play a crucial role in reelecting Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president.
**The ID Group’s Next Moves**
The second-largest right-wing faction is the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, comprising parties like Italy’s Lega, led by Matteo Salvini, and France’s RN, led by Marine Le Pen. Prior to the June elections, ID expelled Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), partially labeled extremist by German security services. This expulsion, coupled with meetings between Meloni and Le Pen, sparked rumors of a potential far-right "super group," which has yet to materialize due to differing political agendas, particularly regarding Russia.
While Meloni supports Ukraine, Le Pen’s RN has historically aligned more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though the party has softened its stance post-Ukraine invasion. If RN gains more power in the French parliament, it could impact France’s budget and Ukraine aid, posing challenges for Kyiv.
Currently, the final composition of the ID group remains uncertain, partly due to the emergence of a new far-right faction in the European Parliament, the Patriots for Europe.
In summary, the European right-wing parties are navigating a complex landscape of old and new alliances, setting the stage for an unpredictable political period in Brussels.
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